Hotdoggin'

Hotdoggin' is a widebody solid-state game released by Bally in July 1980. Designed by Gary Gayton with artwork by Greg Freres, it captures the freewheeling spirit of skiing at the turn of the 1980s. This four-player machine ran on Bally's AS-2518-35 MPU, and 2,050 units were produced.

The gameplay experience is characterized by three flippers, four pop bumpers, two slingshots, and a wealth of drop targets: a 4-bank, a 3-bank, and a 3-in-line bank. Five standup targets, two kick-out holes, a spinning target, and a disappearing kicker on the right side all contribute to the game's complexity. What makes this machine distinctive is its lane layout - triple inlanes on the left and dual inlanes on the right - which adds an extra layer of strategy. The maximum displayed score is 999,990 points per player.

The artwork features vibrant colors and dynamic illustrations that transport players to the slopes. With a confirmed run of just over two thousand units, Hotdoggin' is a lesser-known gem from Bally's solid-state era, and its blend of a packed widebody playfield and a distinctive skiing theme continues to appeal to enthusiasts seeking games off the beaten path.